When most of the England Women team were gleefully celebrating their World Cup final victory on Sunday, Katherine Brunt left the joyous huddle to collapse onto the hallowed Lord's turf in tears of happiness but, more so, relief.
A tense nine-run victory over India in front of a sold-out crowd in London and millions of television viewers ended an eight-year wait for international glory for England and Brunt, who is one of only three players to appear in the 2009 World Cup final victory in Australia and Sunday's success.
The Dodworth woman told the Chronicle: "It's hard to put into words. When we got the last wicket, I ran in and hugged all the girls but then it hit me what we had achieved and I just sat on the floor and started crying. It just seemed the most natural thing to do. The main feeling I felt was relief.
"The last few months, I haven't been sleeping very well. I have just been playing through these matches in my mind, how we would win it and what it would feel like if we lost."Normally you cry when you lose but I was just so overwhelmed when we won that it was all I could do.
"Later on I could enjoy it more. We went to our hotel and took over it. We had a party into the early hours and made the night last as long as we could."
Brunt, 32, was joined in her celebrations by her family from Barnsley – including father Mick who presented her with her 100th One Day International cap earlier in the tournament.She said: "I got them corporate seats and they absolutely took over that part of the ground. They were very loud but also very smart and dapper. I was worried they would embarrass me but they did me proud. They were crying at the end and they took some really, really lovely pictures. It's something none of us will ever forget."
The tournament has captured the imagination of the British public more than women's cricket has in the past, with bigger attendances and more media coverage than ever before.Brunt said: "It's a watershed moment for women's cricket. Lord's was sold out for the final and it was shown on seven TV networks in India. Millions of people watched us and it's a massive step towards getting the next generation of girls involved. I am glad I have been a part of that and I can always look back and say I was one of the people who made it happen."
Brunt opened the bowling for England throughout the tournament, which began with defeat to India then saw a run of eight successive victories in the group stage, semi-final and final. She took five wickets throughout the competition to move her tally onto 125 in One Day Internationals, which is the seventh most in women's cricket history and puts her just three behind team-mate Jenny Gunn who Brunt briefly overtook at the top of England's list earlier this month.
Brunt – who has played 103 ODIs – also impressed as a hard-hitting lower middle order batter, scoring 151 runs including an unbeaten 45 against Australia in the group stage which was her best ever total. Her batting was crucial in the final as she came in at number seven and added an impressive 34 off 42 balls to help push England on to 228 for seven. While Brunt then kept things tight with just 22 runs conceded off her six overs, the star of the match was her fellow opening bowler Anya Shrubsole who took six for 46 and a run-out. India looked the clear favourites on 191 for three in the 43rd over, needing 37 runs off 43 balls. But they lost seven wickets for 28 runs in 23 balls and were bowled out for 219.
She said: "When it is 140 for five, you are starting to really worry. I just wanted to get the score past 200 and I was really happy we managed to do that. Bowling-wise, I had a bit of an off-day after bowling really well all tournament. That was disappointing because I always want to contribute in big games, but I am still happy with my performances over the whole tournament. I bowled the most dot balls of any bowler in the World Cup which I am proud of."
